New Castle County, Delaware Demographics 2026

Population Overview

New Castle County is located in Delaware with a total population of 573,030. It is the 1st most populous county out of 3 in Delaware.

Age Demographics

The median age in New Castle County is 39.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 41.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in New Castle County is $89,901. This is 9% higher than the state median of $82,855. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $329,800. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $326,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 72.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in New Castle County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.6%.

Education

39.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 35.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.6%. Notably, 17.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.